Architects face some of their most difficult challenges from building in extreme environments, which draw out some of their most interesting and inspiring work. "Extreme Architecture" showcases 45 recent buildings designed for challenging environments, giving valuable insights into the extremes of architectural thinking. Projects range from a desert refuge in southern Arizona to a floating marine research center, an underground seed vault in northern Norway and a research station at the South Pole. Each case study begins with a clearly presented table listing the altitude, annual rainfall and average temperatures of the site. Photographs show the project in its environment, as well as drawings, site plans and computer renderings where appropriate. Following a brief introduction, the book is divided into five chapters: Hot, Cold, High, Wet and Space. Architects featured include Zaha Hadid, Mario Botta and Foster & Partners.